Opinion is divided over the move as organisers say there are ‘more positive reviews than negative’
Dave Wilkie from Adventureland said he was angry the market had been allowed to come to New Brighton(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A row has broken out in a Merseyside seaside resort as an incoming market divides opinion ahead of one of the biggest weekends of the year.
With sunshine forecasted for the entire first May bank holiday weekend, businesses up and down New Brighton are preparing for an influx of people looking to spend a day at the beach, swim in the marine lake, and relax in the sun. On Saturday, there’s a farmer’s market on Victoria Road.
However a visiting continental market set up by Merseyside company RREvents is causing a stir amongst some local businesses who feel it will take money away at a crucial time. These concerns were raised at a meeting where Wirral councillors allowed the market to go ahead with restrictions.
Despite those restrictions, Dave Wilkie, who owns the Adventureland fairground, said he was still worried about the impact rival food stalls could have and hit out at the council for what he felt was a lack of support. He told the ECHO: “The concerns are obvious and it was obvious to the panel what my concerns were and those of 25 companies. They know it is damaging to business.”
He added: “I know how to make it work and we have tried but without the council’s support we can’t do anything. I can only deal with what is in my four walls.
“What advantages does this have for the council? They aren’t getting any money. RREvents are obviously trying to feed off the people who are already coming down.”
He added: “I am banging my head against a brick wall. How about I sell up and let’s put an ASDA on there? How would that be for New Brighton? I am just dealing with very backward thinking people.”
In response, Knowsley-based organiser RREvents said they had taken time to promote local businesses including fish and chip shops. They stressed their market was of benefit to local businesses who could not afford to have a permanent place and would give people more choice when visiting the area on a bank holiday.
Joanne Evans said: “New Brighton has always been one of our favourite locations because it’s close to home. We are a family business and we have been coming to New Brighton since we were children ourselves.
“We remember coming with our parents to the outdoor pool and to the fair so having an event in New Brighton is an achievement for our business but also a life saver for the local businesses who partake.”
Wirral Council declined to comment. The three councillors on the licensing panel that approved the market were also approached for comment.
Cllr Max Booth believed the market could have been held on 51 other weekends in the year. He said: “I’m a Wirral councillor, to represent Wirral residents and businesses as best as I can,” adding: “I understand the fundamental importance of propping up our local seaside businesses and communities wherever possible. Granted, this is only for one weekend, but the evidence I heard at the hearing led me to vote against.”
Bars like Tallulah’s Emporium felt the more events being held in New Brighton could only be a good thing(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
As for what potential customers think, they took a more positive view of the market. Alan Dunne, visiting from Halewood, said: “I think it would draw people here if there was more going on. It breaks the day up. There’s something to look around.
“If I had nothing to do and the weather was nice like this, it’s something extra to do.”
Others said they could understand why some businesses were concerned about a potential drop in trade, though some argued one weekend wasn’t going to have a long term impact. Sasha Robinson said: “It also draws more people here. Sorry there’s enough going around looking for food to share the wealth. It will be interesting to see if they do see a drop.”
New Brighton is popular when the weather is warm(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Clare Dawson believes most people from New Brighton itself would probably go to Victoria Road anyway and expected the resort to be chocka, adding: “If you are going to come down to New Brighton, you are going to come for the beach and get ice cream anyway. I think it’s definitely a win.”
Still, the visiting market is a concern for Helen Robinson who has been running the Seaside Cafe on the waterfront for 35 years. She said she wasn’t afraid of competition with other local businesses or events but believes bank holidays should be left to the traders that are there all year round.
She said she didn’t want to see the return of derelict shops in a resort now seeing a revival, adding: “When people from outside come in and cream the bank holiday money, I think it’s unfair. For a business, it’s a constant battle now.
“Everything is so much more expensive than it used to be. The overheads have literally doubled and then you have got to cope with outsiders that want to sweep in at the weekend and rent a stall in direct competition and then walk away for the rest of the year. Does that seem fair?
“We have to budget for those winter months to have those bank holiday weekends.”
During the licensing panel meeting, RREvents promised to promote local fish and chip shops. While it has promoted two in the resort, it accidentally left out Perch Fish Bar, something RREvents said was unfortunate.
Business owner Simon Eizdi said: “It’s not a worry. It’s a fact. Just come down and look. It will affect us. The whole year we wait for the bank holidays because we are closed in the winter and on the bank holidays you need to do something to cover your bills for the winter and everything.”
Not every business feels the same though. Amanda Hardman, the owner of the Driftwood Cafe, said: “It doesn’t really affect us as long as the parking isn’t affected. I think if I was a new business I would be worried but we have a lot of loyal customers who come through even in the wind and rain.
“We will be okay. We aren’t one of the businesses who are bothered. Everybody is just trying to make a living. Whatever they are trying to do to bring people to New Brighton, it’s all good for New Brighton.”
A farmer’s market is also taking place on Victoria Road(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Jess Mellor, from This Side of the Water, is organising the second of a monthly farmer’s market of around 25 independent traders on Victoria Road on Saturday. Despite both markets being in town, she said she’s still looking forward to the weekend.
She told the ECHO: “The more people that are brought to the area, the better for New Brighton. Although I would hope there were more independents involved, I think the more people the merrier. I think it’ll be quite different from what we have got on.”
Jess praised the council for their support on the farmer’s market, adding: “I think it’s going to be a good weekend for New Brighton. It’s looking like it’s going to be pretty reasonable weather. Obviously it’s a touring market so it’s bound to bring extra people to the area.”
Wayne Saunders, co-founder of Tallulah’s Emporium(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Similarly, Wayne Saunders, from Tallulah’s Emporium, was also positive as they often got an uptick in business when more events were in town. He told the ECHO: “I think anything that brings more people to New Brighton from outside the area is a good thing.”
For a resort he said had been underrepresented, he said: “We have all had to do it ourselves,” adding: “Anything that brings people in is a good thing. It has to be. It’s up to us.
“There’s all sorts of things that come to New Brighton that aren’t local but they bring people to the area.
“It’s a destination, not a through route. You have to come to it. It’s the end of the line. Anything that brings them here and gets them to stop, it always puts money into the pockets of the bricks and mortar.
“It still brings money into the area. People might find New Brighton for the first time and then they might come back. There isn’t enough of that going on.”
Joanne Evans from RREvents, in response to some of the criticism, said: “Our event in New Brighton has always had a mixture of feelings amongst the local residents and businesses and speaking to the locals myself there is more positive reviews than negative. Unfortunately for us the negative reviews and opinions are louder and are causing the issues and problems for our event.
“The Wirral panel had to also consider 21 local businesses who have booked onto our event, some of whom took the time to email the panel their concerns that although they do not have bricks and mortar, they rely on events such as ours to also make a living. Mr. Wilkie needs to realise the damage that preventing events like ours does to local independent businesses that work from home.”
She said she had tried to meet local businesses and sent out invites to the event arguing “the people who would normally visit New Brighton and know about the local food places will still eat there if they want to.” She said they would help provide a different food offer with food and crafts from all over the world.
She added: “We are a continental market and we travel up and down the UK on a weekly basis. We get invited by councils all over the UK to increase the footfall into their town or city.
“All our events only last for either three or four days at a time and we visit the same location two to three times a year. As I mentioned in the panel meeting, we do wish to make a profit but more importantly we do this for the glory.
“I think ‘feed off people’ is a very bad choice of words, who are we feeding off? What people? We are bringing something different into New Brighton and it’s up to the people what they want to do.
“We are happy for people to come and visit and enjoy the atmosphere and browse through the stalls, bring their children and enjoy the face painting stalls, the bubble man and the walkabout characters without having to purchase anything.”